Spring 2003 Issue 5

United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, Northeast Chapter Cámara de Comercio México-Estados Unidos, Capítulo Noreste 11 West 42nd Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10036 Tel: 212.789.1499 • Facsimile: 212.789.1498 www.usmcocne.org SPRING 2003 ISSUE 5

UPCOMING EVENTS LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT The Task Forces are rapidly devel- Dear Members: oping (see Task Force Reports) and May 19 that is evident in the high quality of Good news! New be- Welcome reception for Mr. our business events. Join a Task Force ginnings! Our Arturo Sarukhan to advance your interests and make Chamber continues Consul General of Mexico to this a community where we work to- to meet contempo- New York gether, collaborate, and build our rary challenges with a New York City businesses. keen eye to future possibilities. We have On 5 de Mayo, we gathered for the May 19 –23 never been stronger or more focused. traditional luncheon at MAYA. This World Trade Week year's celebration had added mean- A thorough and transparent search World Trade Institute ing. Despite the hardships of the process for executive director and New York City economy and the sadness of war, trade representative made it possible Mexico and the United States will con- for the Managing Committee to care- tinue to seek higher ground as we are June 10 fully consider our chapter's direction, inextricably bound. The Chamber has Panel Discussion its challenges and the opportunities. an important role in continuing to "The International We knew that it was the time to be strengthen the integration process for Implication of US thoughtful and visionary about new this Hemisphere. Special guests were Employment Laws: A Special directions and were fortunate to have Amb. Adolfo Aguilar Zinser, Permanent an excellent pool of candidates. We Concern for US and Mexican Representative of Mexico for the are pleased that the process was so Multinational Employers" United Nations, and Arturo Sarukhan, successful. The new team, María New York City newly appointed Consul General of Fernández and Mercedes Caso has Mexico in New York. the energy, enthusiasm and a great June 12 combination of skills that will serve us The chapter is a co-sponsor of the With Latin American and well. The Chamber also welcomes our World Trade Institute’s World Trade Spanish Chambers newest Managing Committee Week. On May 19th, I am participat- Networking Reception and Member, Dr. Andrés Antonius, ing on a panel discussion, "Seamless Managing Director of Kroll’s Latin Guided Tour Commerce in North America: Myth or The Hispanic Society American Desk in New York. Reality," that kicks off this important New York City conference. Details on the World The national office has a new chief Trade Week on page 2. operating officer, Carole Campbell, July 15 who has been active in regional and We promise you that these are ex- Breakfast Presentation national boards for nearly two citing times – challenging, yes, but "Arts International: Mexico decades. We look forward to working with great opportunities! together. and the Arts" Eduardo Ramos-Gómez New York City

NEW EXECUTIVE TEAM PROFILE Event Details on María Fernández, Executive Director Mercedes Caso, Trade Representative Page 2 Mercedes Caso began vol- New Executive Director, María unteering at the Chamber Fernández, brings a strong busi- last year and was an impor- IN THIS ISSUE ness background in Mexico, the tant part of the transition United States, and Canada. team. With her solid admin- Member News Her professional focus on man- istrative skills and high P. 3 agement, program design, energy, she took the reins corporate public relations, and and has been actively promoting the New Members protocol offers a firm foundation for chapter Chamber and Mexico. Educated in P. 5 development. María earned a BA in Art Mexico City, Mercedes earned a BA in History from Universidad Iberoamericana in Art History at the Universidad Task Force Reports Mexico and a diploma in Theory of Art and Iberoamericana and began her career P. 6 Culture in Mexico. Honors include the with Sotheby's Mexico City. Her natural Rockefeller Fund for Culture and Arts Mexico- people skills will serve this Chamber well. Past Events USA for the catalogue of the exhibition “In Mercedes is married to Peter H. Schultz. P. 7 the Nineties”. María is married to Zakaria R. Fellah.

Managing Committee: Eduardo Ramos-Gómez • Oliver Armas • Denise Simon • Pat Sabino• Aileen Schlef • Andrés Antonius UPCOMING EVENTS Mark Your Calendars MAY BUSINESS EVENTS May 19, 2003, New York City th st WELCOME RECEPTION FOR MR. ARTURO May 19 - 21 , Coral Gables, FL SARUKHAN The Chamber welcomes the 7th Annual Conference on Tax Planning for Consul General of Mexico to New York. Operations in Latin America. CITE, Inc. Latin America Restaurant Pampano, 209 East 49th Street continues to offer tremendous growth opportunities for @ 3rd Avenue, New York, NY, from 5:30 to US companies seeking to expand their global activities. 7:00 p.m. Call (212)789-1499 for more information. Examine the most important tax and legal issues to consider in structuring operations in Latin America today. For further details, call (914) 328-5656 or fax (914) 328-5757. May 19th - 23RD, New York City WORLD TRADE WEEK May 22nd, New York City The US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce is a co- The French-American Chamber of Commerce co- sponsor of World Trade Week which brings sponsors with seven other European Chambers of together over 500 international trade profession- Commerce a networking event at the Central Park als in the New York City region to discuss current Boathouse. Details, contact Martin Bischoff at (212) 765- global business trends and developments: export oppor- 4487 or [email protected]. tunities, regulations guiding expert and important, trade agreements, transportation and logistics, global marketing, technology updates. Eduardo Ramos-Gómez will be a June 4th through 6th, Mexico City speaker at the opening program at the Americas Society BANCOMEXT sponsors The 6th Annual Hispanic Business on going forward to strengthen trade in this hemisphere. Forum (Acercamiento al Mercado Hispano de Estados Details: contact the Hotline at (212) 346-1195 or Unidos y Canadá) which explores business op- www.worldtradeweek.pace.edu. See interview with portunities between Mexico and the US Donna Sharp, in this issue. Market. The forum will feature conferences, workshops and business interviews with JUNE Mexican manufacturers and suppliers. Find out if you qualify for their offer of plane ticket reimburse- June 10, New York City ments up to $350; Contact Gabriela Yzunza (212) The International Implication of US 826-2916 ext. 214, or [email protected] Employment Laws: A Special Concern for US and Mexican Multinational Employers. HONORS and PROMOTIONS Eduardo Ramos-Gómez (Thacher , Proffitt & Wood) and Pedro Lichtinger, president of the Philip Berkowitz (Seyfarth Shaw) will discuss recent high- Animal Health Group of Pfizer, Inc. and a profile lawsuits in the US applying US antidiscrimination member of the Pfizer Management Council, was laws to employees working overseas, including Latin recognized by Crain’s as one of the 100 most powerful America. It will discuss the increasing "Americanization" minority business leaders. Mr. Lichtinger has over 24 of labor laws and steps that employers are taking to try years experience in the animal health industry in the US, to avoid liability, such as adopting best practices pro- Latin America, and Europe. A native of Mexico, Mr. grams. Location and details to be announced. Lichtinger is currently on the boards of the International Federation of Animal Health and the Executive Board of June 12, New York City the Animal Health Institute, global and US animal health Spain and Latin America: Networking industry associations. Reception and Guided Tour from 6:00 p.m. to Ambassador Philip Sánchez was elected president of 8:00 p.m. In association with the Spain-U.S. the Educational Foundation of the Americas, Inc. (EFAI) Chamber of Commerce; Colombian American at the annual meeting in Mexico City. The former Association, Ecuadorean American Association, The Ambassador to Honduras and Colombia, Mr. Sánchez is Venezuelan American Association of the U.S., The publisher of Noticias del Mundo (New York) and Tiempos Bolivian-American Chamber of Commerce; North del Mundo (Mexico, Central and South America). American-Chilean Chamber of Commerce. The Hispanic Society of America, 613 West 155th Street @ Broadway, Anna Carbonell has been promoted to Vice President from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Buses will be available. - Stations Relations WNBC and WNJU east coast. She was named to the board of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). JULY Martin Bischoff was promoted to managing director of July 15, New York City the French-American Chamber of Commerce. Breakfast Presentation "Arts International: Mexico and the Arts" In Mexicana Airlines announces the promotion of association with Arts International, Inc. 251 Eduardo Sánchez as the general manager for New York Park Avenue South, 251 Park Avenue South, and New Jersey. He is responsible for overseeing both 5th floor from 9:00 to10:30 a.m. the Airport Operations as well as this region’s Sales & Marketing. Mr. Sánchez brings 30 years of executive experience with international and US carriers. 2 Andrés Antonius, Managing Committee

The newest member on the Managing Committee, Dr. Andrés Antonius, is the managing director of Kroll's Latin American Desk in New York. In this role, he advises multinational corporations on business opportunities and risks in Latin America and works with the growing number of Latin American firms that have established a presence in the United States. He acts as Kroll's link to members of New York's business community with interests in the region, and works closely with Kroll's Latin American offices to provide clients with a broad spectrum of risk mitigation services throughout the region. Andrés received his bachelor's, masters and doctoral degrees in economics at Harvard University, where he focused on business strategy and corporate finance. Andrés is married to Mónica Aspe.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Yucatán Business Incentives Update. Consist Mexico announces new business develop- December 2002, Investment Promotion ments: (1) Caja Libertad of Querétaro selected Consist’s Mission sponsored by Yucatán Secretary of CRM solution to implement their Help Desk operation. (2) Industrial and Commercial Development, Quaker State-Penzoil Company, Puebla, chose iTM1 the Bancomext, and the US-Mexico Chamber/NE Chapter. Business Intelligence solution of Applix, which is marketed Results include a $3 million investment in Yucatán by a by Consist. (2) The Local Congress of Mexico City, New Jersey furniture manufacturer. Yucatán has skilled through a public bid, selected the GEM Fixed Assets solu- labor force, 50% savings on operating costs, and a strate- tion to structure the control of 60 thousand items in 50 gic location on the Gulf of Mexico. Federal and state locations. (4) MABE, a major appliance manufacturer, incentives can exceed $2,000 per job created. has contracted Consist’s e-learning services top execu- Additional incentives for priority sectors: aerospace, tives utilizing Harvard Business School Publishing content. agribusiness, furniture, information technology (soft- (5) The Mexican Army renewed maintenance contract for ware/hardware), medical, textile/apparel and contract the Guidance Solution supported by Consist. Contact: manufacturing. Contact Edmundo González, (212) 826- Anthony Berkowitz, [email protected]. 2916 or Susanna Werner. Bilingual (English/Spanish) website at www.sedeincoyuc.gob.mx Creative Alliance Communications. Aileen Schlef has been retained by the National Latina Health Network to Pro Mujer Mexico At the end of February, PMM had produce a September 9th Washington, D.C. event honor- ing Congresswoman Hilda Solís, chair of the 2,708 clients, a loan portfolio of $235,000, and 0 arrears. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Heath Task Force, for her Since April 2002, when credit operations were initiated, leadership in support of women’s and Latino family PMM has established 6 focal centers in and around Tula health. Creative Alliance is handling sponsorships and in the State of Hidalgo and it is expanding to the State public relations. The company represents The Dupont at capital, Pachuca. Program director, Armando Laborde, the Circle, a top B&B in Washington, D.C. Contact: is developing an in-house management information sys- [email protected]. tem to link the focal centers with the central office. Other states that have expressed interest in having the Arden Associates. Mary Dawne Arden has been con- program are the states of Puebla, Michoacán, and sulting around the country on sales training for L’Oreal. Tlaxcala. They have all sent delegations to visit the pro- she recently published several articals as an expert on gram in Hidalgo! Contact: Sue Mark at (212) 952-0181 or Body Language and Communication and appeared as [email protected]. an expert on Court TV and is a FOX News Consultant. www.ardenassociates.com or (212) 644-8199

USMCOC WELCOMES ITS NEWEST MEMBERS

ACCION NEW YORK Non-Profit Financial Aid IMAGINARIA COMMUNICATIONS, LLC Public www.accionnewyork.org Relations, Advertising and Consulting Services ARTS INTERNATIONAL, INC. Non-Profit Cultural www.imaginaria.us Promotion www.artsinternational.org LATINO COMMUNICATIONS CORP. Communications www.www.latcomm.net ASOCIACIÓN TEPEYAC DE NEW YORK Non-Profit Community Organiztion www.tepeyac.org LEXCORP ABOGADOS Law & Legal Services www.lexcorp.com CINEMA TROPICAL Non-Profit Cultural Promotion www.cinematropical.com NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY CENTRO ENTÉRATE Non-Profit Community Organiztion Insurance www.newyorklife.com NH HOTELS Travel & Tourism www.nh-hotels.com FRENCH-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWSPANIPORT Consulting Services www.spaniport.com Chamber Of Commerce www.faccnyc.org GREATER JAMAICA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION VERACRUZ TRADE OFFICE State Government Promotion Non-Profit Financial Aid www.gjdc.org www.veracruztradeoffice.com HSBC Investment and Merchant Banking VINSON & ELKINS LLP Law & Legal Services www.us.hsbc.com MEMBERSwww.velaw.com JEWELL CONSULTING GROUP Consulting Services YUCATAN STATE, SECRETARY OF INDUSTRIAL AND COM- www.jewellconsulting.com MERCIAL DEVELOPMENT State Government Promotion JONES DAY Law & Legal Services www.jonesday.com www.sedeincoyuc.gob.mex 3 DINING, TRAVEL & TOURISM AeroMexico Offers 15% Discount to US-Mexico sive cabin, and an opportunity to savor the refined Suns Chamber of Commerce Members. and Spices menu specially created for the airline by an in- AeroMexico is offering a 15% discount to US-Mexico ternationally acclaimed chef. AeroMexico's Clase Premier Chamber of Commerce members, on all flights between was recently named best business class to Mexico for a the United States and Mexico. This special discount is ap- second consecutive year by Business Traveler magazine. plied to J, Y, B and M published fares at the time of AeroMexico offers convenient schedules from 16 gate- booking by mentioning code G/B22/PRO/USM and is of- ways in the USA - including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. fered until December 15, 2003, with travel having to be Worth, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, completed by that day. All AeroMexico flights offer the Ontario CA., Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Diego - carrier's renowned Clase Premier service with dedicated to 43 destinations throughout Mexico. For reservations and check-in, priority boarding, and baggage handling, exclu- information, please call (800) 237-6639 or visit www.aeromexico.com

MEXICANA AIRLINES Offers 15% Discount to US-Mexico Chamber of Café Frida offers a 10% dis- Commerce Members Mexicana Airlines, with more than 80 years of respected count for members at their 368 service, offers a special opportunity for the USMCOC members to travel to Mexico with a 15% discounts, and 10,000 additional bonus miles for new subscribers to the Columbus Avenue restaurant in Frecuenta Program, for flights out of all our US gateways including Newark, Los New York City. Call Joaquín Angeles, Denver, San Francisco, Oakland, Miami and Chicago, among others. This Martínez at 212-712-2929 to make offer is valid until December 15, 2003. At the time you are making your reservation, your reservations. please mention the code GGFN1366. This promotion does not apply to the following serial number flights 1000/2000/3000/4000; your trip must be completed on Mexicana. For more information about other plans and promotions please call the The Dupont at the Circle in Reservations Center 1800-531-792. Washington, D.C. is offering at 10% discount for chamber NH Hotels, a leading hotel chain operates 241 hotels with nearly 35,000 members. Charming Victorian rooms in 17 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. NH holds 3rd place in the European Ranking of Business Hotels. NH has acquired the setting on tree-lined street just former Mexican chain of Krystal Hotels and now operates hotels in steps from the Dupont Circle Mexico City (Zona Rosa), Tlalnepantla, Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa, metro. Contact owner Anexora Coatzacoalcos, Boca del Río (Veracruz) and Lázaro Cárdenas. Newest addition is Aguilera Skvirsky: (888) 412-0100 the NH Tlalnepantla, which offers 132 rooms in the heart of the most important in- or [email protected] dustrial section of the country. It has a capacity for up to 500 people, 6 meeting rooms, sports area, gardens, restaurant and bar. Contact sales offices in the USA to or visit their website at: inquire about special rates (800) 232-9860. Contact Kattia Jaramillo, Marketing, NH www.dupontatthecircle.com. Hotels at (847) 390-1140, email [email protected] or visit www.nh- hotels.com

Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts of Mexico offers 10 beautiful resorts and one magnificent city center property. Paradisus Riviera Cancún – 500 suites situated in the Yucatán, 25 minutes south of Cancún. The Gran Meliá Cancún Convention Center Beach & Spa Resort - 780 rooms with large private terraces and sea or lagoon views. Meliá Turquesa - In the heart of Cancún’s hotel zone, this 450-room property is walking distance to shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Meliá Los Cabos. 150 deluxe hacienda-style suites, fantastic views of the Sea of Cortés. Meliá Cabo Real Convention Center Beach & Golf Resort, located on majestic beach stretching between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas at the tip of the Baja California Peninsula. Meliá San Lucas – 150-rooms on a beautiful beach only minutes from town center. Special Packages (on special dates) for business, meetings and leisure travel. For more information or reservations contact Sheila Sermaan at sheilas@sol- group.com or visit www.solmelia.com.

WE ARE UPDATING THE NEWSLETTER OUR DATABASE. Editorial Committee: In order to keep receiving information on the chamber's The Managing Comittee, Aileen Schlef events and opportunities, please visit us at usmcocne.org/form3.html to fill out a form with your Newsletter Comittee: contact information. Maria Fernandez, Executive Director Mercedes Caso, Trade Representative If we do not receive your response by June Julia Mold-Torres, Photographer 20th, 2003, we will not be able to continue sending in- Evelyn D. Guerra, Graphic Designer formation. Thank you for assisting us in streamlining our Newsletter Volunteers Wanted to Write, services. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate Edit, and Proofread. to call 212-789-1499 or e-mail: Please contact María Fernández. [email protected] We are “growing the team”. 4 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Donna Sharp, Executive Director, The World Trade Institute By: Aileen Schlef

Getting involved in World Trade Week Fordham University, Donna holds a Masters in Public (May 19th-23rd) provided a great op- Administration from Columbia University's School of portunity to learn about one of our International and Public Affairs. She is on the Editorial most active members, Donna Sharp, Advisory Board of World Trade Magazine and was ap- Executive Director of the World Trade pointed to the New York District Export Council (DEC) by Institute (WTI). Her contributions to in- the Secretary of Commerce. ternational business were recognized in 2001 when the Manhattan The history of the World Trade Institute is compelling. International Development Corp gave her the Originally owned by the Port Authority of NY/NJ, it was International Service Award for spearheading the obser- purchased by Pace University in 1997 to further its com- vance of World Trade Week in New York City. mitment to international business. WTI was housed on the 55th floor of One World Trade Center from 1972 Donna has served as the Chair of the Week's events for through 2001. WTI has returned to a newly renovated the past three years and was instrumental in resurrect- downtown location on William Street. Like the chamber, ing this celebration in New York after several years of WTI has shown an extraordinary ability to move forward dormancy. She notes that,“World Trade Week has been and maintain the vision after 9/11. celebrated in the US for the past 77 years”. www.worldtradeweek.pace.edu. For over 30 years, WTI has offered training and educational programs to the international community tailored Before becoming executive director in 1998, Donna to fit a wide range of experience and budgets ( in New was affiliated with the Institute for many years as a con- York City, throughout the US and abroad). WTI special- sultant and a teacher. She was previously president of izes in the areas of import, export, logistics, Global Logic, Inc., and held executive positions in the transportation, trade finance, international taxation and transportation sector for 15 years, most recently with the foreign language training. Spanish is also taught on five Union Pacific Railroad, Exxon Mobile, and Overnite levels, and English classes are available. Details at Transportation, a subsidiary of the Union Pacific www.wti.pace.edu WTI's curriculum has a variety of in- Corporation where she managed their international op- depth courses on Mexican issues and there are plans to erations and key accounts. expand educational programs within Mexico. Donna works to make WTI a center that advances global trade in a greatly changed world. A graduate of

ew Member ACCION New York, New York City’s largest micro lender. Small business owners in this region can receive loan assistance to seek their entrepreneurial dreams NProfile (from $500 to $50,000). Often, clients are not able to secure traditional bank loans. Leonor Chávez and Uvalda Alvarado, were able to achieve their business goals because of loans from ACCION. Six years ago, Leonor and her family settled in New York. She earned money by selling flowers, just as her father did in Mexico. With a full-time job, she began to make flower arrangements in her home and soon had flower orders for baby showers, weddings, and spe- Leonor Chávez & Diana cial events. She noticed a “for sale” sign at a party supplies store and purchased the business with her savings. She was unable to secure additional funds to renovate and buy a refrigerator to hold fresh flowers. By chance, she met Uvalda who had secured an initial loan of $1500 from AC- CION New York to build a small kitchen in a leased garage. Her business grew and she was able to borrow $15,900 to open a store next to her 70-seat Mexican restaurant! Leonor contacted ACCION and secured a loan. Her business line now includes Leonor Chávez and daughter, Diana tuxedo rentals, table and chair deliveries, and limo service reservations. Leonor has a new vision - future expansion! For details on ACCION loan process guide- lines, contact Laura Chittick at (718) 599-5170 ext. 338 or (917) 667-3748. Fundación Juntos Con Las Ninas y Street Children, the US International Youth Foundation and Los Ninos A.C. (JUCONI - Together the World Bank, for its success in helping over 80% of the with the Children) a foundation 350 children and families they work with annually to leave dedicated to providing special street life permanently behind and for its capacity to de- services to reintegrate girls and velop effective approaches in achieving long term results boys who live or work on the street for the most vulnerable and excluded children. JUCONI, and children at risk of taking to which currently operates in Mexico and Ecuador, has street life. Alison Lane, General Director of JUCONI Training Centers to improve services by making the meth- Mexico, attended our 5 de Mayo luncheon. ods and tools tried and tested in JUCONI available to other organizations and programs in South Africa, Brazil, The JUCONI Foundation is internationally recognized by Peru, Central America and Afghanistan. organizations such as UNESCO, the UK Consortium for Visit www.juconi.org.mx 5 TASK FORCE REPORTS CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Chair: Pedro Lichtinger, Pfizer E-mail: [email protected] Managing Committee Member: Denise Simon

April 1 - Corporate Governance: Global Challenge - Implications for Mexico Pedro Lichtinger led a provocative panel discussion of the fast-moving developments in American corporate governance practices and their implications for Mexican business. In introducing the program, Mr. Lichtinger noted that Pfizer and Pfizer Animal Health share a long heritage in Mexico and a reputation for leadership in corporate governance. Panelists - all eminent in their expertise on these issues - clearly showed how good governance can help build a company's -and Mexico's -credibility with investors. * Pedro Lichtinger (moderator), President, Animal Health Group & VP, Pfizer Inc. * Margaret M. Foran, VP,Corporate Governance, & Secretary, Pfizer, Inc. * Peter C. Chapman, Senior VP & Chief Counsel, Corporate Governance, TIAA-CREF. * Steven D. Guynn, Partner & Chair, Latin America practice, Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue.

* Renato de L. Grandmont, Head, Global Corporate Governance From Left to Research, Deutsche Bank. Right: Pedro Lichtinger, Pfizer Inc.; Renato de L. Grandmont, Deutsche Bank; Steven D. Guynn, Jones Day; Margaret M. Foran, Pfizer, Inc.; Peter C. Clapman, TIAA-CREF

ENERGY LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Chair: Andres Antonius, Kroll Chair: Phil Berkowitz, Seyfarth Shaw E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Managing Committee Member: Denise Simon Managing Committee Member: Aileen Schlef

Panel Discussion: "The International Implication of US Employment Laws: A Special Concern for US and Mexican Multinational Employer." (Details in page 2)

October: Japan-Mexico Labor Relations Program organized in collaboration with the Japan Society, with the participation corporate executives representing a Japanese company that have an important presence in the US and Mexico. Bill Weiland, Vinson & Elkins Dionisio Perez-Jacome (Details in our summer issue.) Comision Reguladora de Energia January 30 - Investment Opportunities in Mexican Gas & Electricity: Today and Tomorrow. NEW TASK FORCE INFORMATION Dionisio Pérez-Jácome, Chairman of the Comisión Reguladora de Energía, dis- COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS cussed the energy outlook for Mexico in Co-chair: To Be Decided 2003, focusing on LNG (liquified natural Managing Committee Member: Aileen Schlef gas), electricity power projects, and the Task Force will hold its first meeting in late May. outlook for the natural gas market. Energy is a topic of growing importance in the US-Mexico bilateral relationship. Mexico is one EDUCATION of the US's top suppliers of crude oil, a large importer of US natu- Co-Chair: William Farrell ral gas, and the cross border trade in electricity is growing E-mail: [email protected] rapidly. Post-Sept 11, there has been growing US interest in hav- Managing Committe Member: Aileen Schlef ing Mexico become a more important supplier of oil, which goes in with more opening of the sector to private investment. This will FINANCIAL TASK FORCE be an important and delicate topic on the bilateral agenda for Co-Chairs: years to come. The Comisión Reguladora de Energía is an au- Alejandro Gutiérrez, Bear Stearns tonomous regulatory authority created in 1993 and strengthened E-Mail:[email protected] in 1995, charged with regulating the markets for energy products Guillermo Jiménez, Banco Nacional de México in Mexico. E-mail: [email protected] Edmundo González, Bancomext/Trade Commision TRAVEL AND TOURISM of Mexico E-mail: [email protected] Co-Chairs: Managing Committee Member: Denise Simon Aminta Morel, Aeromexico E-mail: [email protected] TAFY and TRANSPORTATION Members: Al Kaplan, Maroma Hotel Co-Chairs: Joseph Messina, Marcraft Clothes E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Elyse Elkin Travel Impressions David Silverman, Dynamic Express E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 6 Managing Committee Member: Aileen Schlef PAST EVENTS

November 8, 2002 FEBRUARY 24 The United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce Presentation and Networking Reception: "Doing Business and The Mexican Cultural Institute of New York co-hosted an with Mexico". opening reception for a photography exhibit by Jonathan Philip Berkowitz, Seyfarth Shaw Alpeyrie at Café Frida. and Eduardo Ramos-Gómez, USMCOC “Children of Chiapas: Smiles of Hope” Special acknowledgements to Café Frida and the Peloponnesian Agency

December 11, 2002 Holiday Season Celebration and Silent Auction

Left: Jean-Louis Alpeyrie, Partner, Heidrich & Struggles

Right: Jonathan Alpeyrie, Jamie Spinney, Sol Melia Hotels Peloponessian Agency

January 14, 2003 Presentation and Reception: "US- From left to right: Mexico: A Mr. & Mrs. Bill Farell, Growing First VP-Investments, Partnership" UBS Paine Webber and Mercedes Caso, Trade Presentative, USM- Denise Holt, United Kingdom Mark Brucknall, CEO, HSBC Ambassador to Mexico COC-NE Chapter

March 20, 2003 Panel Discussion: "Mexican Roundtable: A Critical Moment for the Fox Administration." We encourgage all our members to April 1, 2003 participate in all Chamber events. Panel Discussion and Reception: "Corporate Governance: Global Challenge Implications for Mexico" For more information on becoming March 20, 2003 a member, please visit our website: Networking Reception: "Mexican Professionals living in www.usmcocne.org New York Area" or contact our Executive Team May 5, 2003 Annual Luncheon: Cinco de Mayo Maria Fernández: [email protected] or Mercedes Caso: [email protected]

Future events are featured on page 2.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

From Left to Right: María Fernández, USMCOC; Alejandro Gutierrez, Bear Stearns; Denise Simon, The Atlantic 7 USMCOC MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

Joining the Chamber, you become part of a prominent network of more than 3,000 companies and business leaders who are members of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce.

ALL MEMBERS, regardless of the level, receive these important benefits: Exceptional networking opportunities and Member discounts on events, valuable business services and products. Business presentations, lectures, breakfast briefings, trade seminars, roundtable discussions, gala dinners, networking receptions, and much more. Platform to promote your business in the United States-Mexico Community. Promote your business through the USMCOC Bi-National Membership Directory and receive a free copy Listing your company in the Northeast Chapter’s Directory and a complimentary link to your home page in the Website: www.usmcocne.org Proactive advocacy for issues and policies that will promote and protect your cross-border business Opportunities to participate in our Trade Missions organized in cooperation with Mexican State governmental officials and private business executives. Obtain regular information on special issues related to Mexico and the United States, as well as our quarterly newsletter. Promote corporate identity and leadership within a sector throughout both countries Opportunity to participate in the USMCOC Task Forces according to your particular industry or sector.

Membership dues may be treated as legitimate business expenses under the Internal Revenue Code. For more information, please email us at [email protected] with your name, company, address and contact numbers.

Associate Level $100 REGISTRATION FORM Offered to Non-Profit, Governmental, NGO and Educational Organizations and Institutions. Application is hereby made for membership in the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce. Individual Level $300 Remittance of $______is enclosed for the following type of Offered to persons not involved in U.S.-Mexico com- membership: merce at a corporate level Individual Associate Corporate Regional Bi-National Name of Company: ______Corporate Level $500-2,000 Date Founded:______Sales Volume:______Membership fee is based in your company’s annual rev- Employees:______enue: Company Representative to Chamber: Annual revenue under $10M $ 500 ______Annual revenue $10M-50 M $1,000 Title:______Annual revenue $50M-100 M $1,500 Division: ______More than $100M $2,000 Address: ______City: ______State:______Regional Level $2,500 Zip Code:______Members are able to designate one representative to sit Telephone: ______Extension: ______on the Chapter Regional Advisory Council Fax: ______E-mail: ______Bi-National $7,500.00 Website: ______Members are able to designate one representative to sit on Type of Business: ______the Bi-National Board of Directors, Use of regional chap- Primary Marketing Areas: ______ters resources, Exclusive participation in meetings with Do you export? Yes ? No ? high-level governmental officials and diplomatic leaders. From: ______To: ______Payment by check: Do you have an office in Mexico? Yes ? No ? Make checks payable to: If yes, where? ______United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce Where is your Headquarters? ______Fill out the following information and fax it to Location of other offices: ______(212) 789-1498 and mail them to: 11 West 42nd Street, * Please enclose the contact information of the company representa- 9th Floor, New York, NY 10036 tives to be included. Payment by credit card: Please enclose a paragraph with your corporate profile, including a Please charge my credit card: Amex MasterCard Visa company history description, your mission, a description of your products/services, and/or any promotional materials from your company. The amount of $______To become a member, please fill out the application and send it as an Name on credit card: ______attachment to [email protected] or fax it to 212-789-1498 and a Chamber staff member will contact you shortly. Credit Card Number: ______For more information or to register online go to: Exp. Date: ______http://usmcocne.org/member.html Signature:______